Folding metallic clothesline prop



Dec. 16, 1924. 1,519,576

D. E. DORE FOLDING METALLIC CLOTHESLINE PROP Filed Sept. '7, 1923 Patented 1'5,

DANIEL DORE, O1 LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING METALLIC CLOTHESLINE PROP.

Application filed September To all 1.071 am it may concern Be it known that T, DANLEL E. DORE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lelr anon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Metallic Clothesline Props, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to a folding nietallic clothes line prop and it has for its object to provide a device of this character combining simplicity and economy of manufacture with great strength and long life. While the invention is of particular utility as a clothesline prop it is by no means limited to that use. The method of arranging the several folding sections is applicable to poles of other characters, such as flag poles, tent poles and the like. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention includes any character of pole to which the features of the invention are adaptable.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a prop constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing two of the sections in the position they assume when the prop is in folded con dition: and

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the prop showing the same in its folded condition.

Like numerals designate corresponding parts in all of the figures of the drawing.

In carrying out the invention 1 provide a plurality of sections 5.v 6 and 7. In the present instance I have illustrated three sections but it is to be understood that any desired number of sections may be employed. The section 5 is enough narrower than the section 6 to nest therein and the section 6 is enough narrower than the section '7 to nest therein. Thus the section 5 may be folded downwardlv into the section 6 and then both of the sections 5 and 6 may be folded downwardly into the section 7 to bring the parts to the position illustrated in Fig. i. The several sections are provided with novel pin and slot connections best illustrated in Fig. 2. By referring to this fig' ure it will be seen that the smaller of the sections to be connected are provided with inclined slots 8 in their opposed sidewalls adjacent the ends of said sections, said slots 7, 1823. Serial No. 661,404..

having on arged portions 9 at their lower ends. R s 10 extending transversely between sidewalls of the lower sections (1n h 2, section 6) pass through the inclined slots 8. for example, it be desired to fold the section in 2, downwardly i the section (3, the section 5 would be A and drawn upwardly to bring the pin 10 into the enlarged portion 9 of the slot. The inclination of the slot would, during this upward movement, carry the rear wall of the section 5 far enough from the rear wall of the section 6 to permit the said section 5 to be swung over to the left and downwardly to cause it to lie in the section 6, as illustrated in Fig. 3. In bringing the prop to an erect position, the section 5 would he swung upwardly and into alinement with the section 6 and would then be forced downwardly to cause the pin 10 to act against the inclined rear edges of the slot 8 and thus wedge the lower end of the scctlon 5 into engagement with the rear wall of the section 6. The connection between the lower end of the section 6 and and the upper end of the section 7 is the same as that just described and needs no additional description. With the several sections swung into longitudinal alinement with each other and brought into wedging engagement with each other as described, a channel iron prop is provided which is practically as stiff and rigid as a continuous prop would be. The metal of the upper end of the uppermost section 5 is cut to permit the upper portions of the side walls to be bent inwardly and lie against the rear wall, as indicated at 11, thus reenforcing and strengthening the extension 12 of the rear wall. A wire clip 13 serves to grip and hold the clothesline (not shown). This wire comprises a bowed portion 14 which coacts with the extension 12 and a shank 15 which passes rearwardly through the rear wall of the section 5, then downwardly along the rear face of the rear wall and then forwardly and upwardly, as indicated at 16.

It is a well recognized fact that channel iron structures present great strength and rigidity and the arrangement herein shown and described provides a foldable prop which. while it may be made wholly of sheet metal, except for the pins 10 and the clip 14, possesses great strength and rigidity. The fact that it may be folded when not in use renders it possible to store it out of the weather. This, coupled with the fact that it is preferably made of galvanized iron in sures it against rusting or other deterioration. If desired, the lowerend of the section 7 may be closed, as indicated at 7.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth but that it includes within its purview whatever changes lairly come within either the terms or the spirit of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1.. A clothes prop comprising a plurality of channel iron sections the'lower ends oi? the upper sections being provided with inclined slots in their sidewalls which slots terminatein enlarged portions at their lower ends and the adjacent portions of the related sections carrying pins which traverse said slots, the inclination of said slots being such that when the sections are moved toward each other they are forced into wedging engagement with each other.

2. A structure as recited in claim 1 in combination with a wire clip engaged with the upperend of the uppermost section and having a resilient portion coasting with said upper end to complementally form therewith a grip for the reception of a clothesline.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signature.

DANIEL E. DORE. 

